When the Legends Die | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Introduction Poem | Part 1, Chapter 1

1. What does the introductory poem to "When the Legends Die" summarize?

2. How does the Black Bull family face the opening crisis situation in the first chapter?

Short Essay Question - Part 1, Chapter 2 | Part 1, Chapter 3

3. In Chapter 2, what sort of glimpse does the author provide of life on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in comparison to Indian life the 'old way'?

4. How does the theme of the roundness of all life unfold through Bessie Black Bull?